Social Safety and Security (Bachelor)

Study profile

In 2004-2005, VIVES started a bachelor programme in ‘Security, Safety and Society’. This bachelor, unique in Flanders, is a specialisation within the core study programme Social Sciences. Over the last decade, personal safety and public insecurity have undeniably gained importance in public speech, political debate and scientific research. In the wake of our late modern Risk Society, individualisation and globalisation have an important and not to be neglected downside: a growing and general feeling of unrest and anxiety comes up, feeding the longing for safety, security and certainty. Safety has therefore become a first-rate priority and task for an increasing number of people and organisations, both private and public, both profit and non-profit. Obviously, a society of the kind requires well-trained professionals who seek answers to complex safety and security issues in a comprehensive, critical and professional manner. That is why this specialisation of Social Sciences was introduced in 2004, together with a parallel Centre for Research in Security, Safety and Society.

This training meets the demand for safety experts with the authorities (cities and towns, police, fire brigade, public transport...), with internal services of companies, organisations, sports clubs, event organisations, hospitals, banks & insurance companies, and with organisations or services that work for third parties such as consultancy companies, security companies, day care centres... Graduates become consultants, project managers, service providers or policy staff members, with a broad knowledge of safety, safety policy and safety care.

Study content

The programme has an integrated character, and examines safety issues form a variety of angles, i.e. connecting philosophical, economical, sociological, psychological, legal, criminological en technical approaches. It is also skills-based. This means that the students are trained to carry out professionally core tasks taken from practice. They are trained to apply educational, communicative and analytical skills at the level of both case studies and policy. They learn to look for solutions by using a diversity of problem solving strategies. This may include the design or supervision of safety schemes for policing, the coordination of a project to prevent violence in urban nightlife in cooperation with the local police and community work, the development of a prevention scheme on violence and on disruptive behaviour in a youth welfare institute, ...

The bachelor in 'Security, Safety and Society' is a three-year full-time training programme, worth 180 ECT credits, organised at the level of a college university. The curriculum has a clear and profound social-scientific orientation, and offers a specific, professional preparation.

Contact Details

Ms. Veerle Dupont

Coördinator of the Bachelor ProgramCoördinator of International AffairesCoördinator of the Centre for Research in Security, Safety and Society